INT. SERENITY - BRIDGE

River tenses up as she watches Paul’s body go limp on the scope.

RIVER: No!

She pushes forward on the yoke, tipping Serenity’s nose down further. The flames licking Serenity’s windshield fade away.

River looks over her shoulder at Jayne. He meets her gaze a beat, then realization dawns on his face.

Mal sees the silent exchange, thinks a moment, then places a hand on Jayne’s shoulder.

MAL: Think you can pull it off?

JAYNE (grinning): Just like the train, ‘cept straight down-like. (beat, more quietly) Man wouldn’t hesitate if it were my ass droppin’.

MAL (nodding): Go. (turns) Simon, he’ll need a hand. Maybe even two.

Simon nods and follows Jayne from the Bridge.

Mal turns back to the console.

MAL: Go for it, little one. You got my permission to push this ol’ girl til she’s got nothin’ left.

EXT. SERENITY - VFX

Serenity screams by, her thrusters whining uncharacteristically loud.

INT. ESCAPE POD TWO

Powell is maneuvering his stick, keeping Paul's falling body in sight.

POWELL: What the hell do we do?

MADSEN (VO Radio): I'd punch out and grab him, but these 'chute's can't handle the stress of two people.

POWELL: Wait, something's showing up on my proximity sensor...

INT. SERENITY - CARGO BAY

Simon works the unit that lowers the winch cable, dropping it to chest level, opening the floor access doors at the same time. Jayne comes racing down the fore/starboard stairs, taking them two at a time and clearing the last five. He is dressed in his tan jumpsuit, his heavy hooded jacket cinched tight.

Jayne shoves a hand-held radio into Simon's hand as he grabs the cable, giving it a yank. He reaches into his hood and adjusts the earpiece beneath it.

JAYNE: You keep an ear to this thing every second I'm swingin', dong ma? And hang on to somethin'. We're gonna be nose-down an' ass-high in a minute.

Simon nods as Jayne turns around and allows Simon to attach the cable to the harness he's wearing over his heavy tan jacket. Jayne pulls the hood tighter around his face, adjusting his goggles.

MAL (VO Intercom): Jayne, we got no time! World's comin' up fast!

Simon presses a button on the unit and the next set of access doors opens, allowing wind to come screaming into the cargo bay.

JAYNE: Now get back!

Simon retreats to the stair railing, wrapping his arms through it, clinging to the radio and winch/door control unit. He presses a button and the line hefts Jayne off the deck.

EXT. SERENITY - VFX

Serenity swoops around in a long arc.

Whip-pan zoom to Paul's falling form. He's falling back-first, arms and legs dragging upward from the wind sheer.

INT. SERENITY - CARGO BAY

Once Jayne is centered over the opening, Simon presses another button. Jayne slowly drops out of sight.

EXT. SERENITY – WIDE ANGLE PROFILE

Jayne appears beneath the ship, his body pummelled by wind. He tucks his arms against his sides and brings his legs tight together, forming an arrow with his body.

CU of Jayne's goggled eyes. He squints.

Whip-pan zoom to see Paul falling two hundred feet ahead and several hundred feet below.

CU of Jayne's face.

JAYNE: I'm out! Let's dive!

Pull away to show Serenity's profile as she tips forward into an eighty-degree dive. Jayne's cable begins to curl backward from the wind speed. Jayne keeps his body parallel with Serenity.

INT. SERENITY – BRIDGE

River is intently focused on the screens before her, her hands maneuvering the yoke with precision. Mal leans hard on the console as the ship tips forward, bracing himself with his feet against the base of the console.

JAYNE (VO Radio): 'Bout a hundred feet away! Keep 'er steady!

RIVER: Copy.

MAL: We're at a hundred and fifteen knots. Altitude three point two miles.

River's grip tightens on the yoke as she tilts it forward a centimeter.

EXT. SERENITY – WIDE ANGLE VIEW

Serenity screams earthward. Jayne slowly approaches Paul's falling body.

CU of Jayne's face.

JAYNE: Fifty feet! Angle down a piece!

Pull back to see Serenity assume a steeper dive. Jayne approaches Paul's body.

JAYNE: Little more angle! Slow down coupla knots!

Jayne gets within reach of Paul's boot. He grabs along Paul's pant leg until he gets hold of his arms, then torso. He grabs Paul in a fierce bear hug, wrapping his legs around Paul’s.

Jayne POV – A massive body of water below.

JAYNE: Got 'im! Pull up! PULL UP!

Pull away to see Serenity begin to slowly level off.

JAYNE: Doc, bring us up! Now!

INT. SERENITY - CARGO BAY

Simon, still clinging to the railing, presses a button on the winch control. The winch whines against the extra resistance. The cable is dragged back against the rear of the hatch, sliding back and forth a few inches from the winds. Simon notices this.

A strange twang resounds through the bay. Simon takes a closer look at the cable. It's fraying.

SIMON: Oh, no, no, NO! (holds handheld to his mouth) The cable's breaking!

JAYNE (VO Radio): What?

MAL (VO Radio): Well, shut the gorram thing off!

Simon complies. He looks at the cable. The wire threads are still snapping from the slight side-to-side motion.

SIMON (radio to his mouth): It's still breaking!

INT. SERENITY - BRIDGE

River is gently pulling back on the yoke and reducing the throttle simultaneously.

MAL: Easy now. We pull up too fast...

RIVER: I know. But too slow, and…

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